Girls, Have you ever used a Nuva Ring? (Guys, have any of your partners used one?) Can you please tell me how it worked out for you (her)?

[Sara413]

I had an IUD put in 6 months ago and it is not working out for me. My Doctor now wants me to try the Nuva Ring. She said that the hormones in it are different than the Mirena IUD I had and that it acts locally rather than being absorbed, so it might be a better solution for me. The IUD has caused me to become depressed and the spotting associated with the IUD settling has not gotten any better. With the Nuva Ring, I will go back to having regular periods. It’s worth a shot because the next step is the boyfriend getting the ol’ snip, as I’ve tried basically everything. Here’s what I want to know: Ladies, can you feel the Nuva Ring when it’s in there? Guys, can you feel it when you sleep with your partner? Is it difficult to insert? How do you know you’ve inserted it correctly? Is it possible to insert it wrong and, if you do, does that impact it’s efficacy? Have you ever had it come out during sex? What about while going to the bathroom? Anything else you think I should know? Thanks!!!

[kaylaS91]

I was on the NuvaRing for a few months a year or so ago. I ended up taking it out relatively quick because the hormones, though locally administered, were making me a bit psycho and completely emotionally exhausted. I'll answer your questions, nonetheless.

I didn't feel it while it was inside. It's a pretty soft, flexible ring that's pretty thin as well so.. I couldn't feel it any more than a tampon.

Not difficult to insert at all. Generally the advised way to insert it and how I did it was to bend the ring in half by pressing down on the middle and slide it in while doing so. You know you did it 'wrong' if you can feel it, basically. Meaning you didn't push it in far enough, though that's an easy fix. I'm not sure if that would impact it's efficacy... maybe a bit? It functions in the same way as a pill, with the use of both progestin as well as estrogen. Meaning it prevents pregnancy by both preventing ovulation as well as thickening the cervical mucus so maybe because those hormones are administered locally, the dosage wouldn't be maximized? Not sure. You'll know if it's not in properly though.

I never had it come out during sex or going to the bathroom. My boyfriend said he could feel it but it didn't really bother him... can't say the same for myself. I'd quite often get rubbed a bit raw which I assume would be from the friction of him rubbing the ring against my insides. However, you're apparently allowed to take it out for a bit so long as that time doesn't surpass 3 hours before reinserting it, which could be a solution for that issue. As long as you're mindful about remembering to put it back in ASAP afterwards.

[xHoneyxBeex]

I'm currently on NuvaRing.

1) I cannot feel the ring after I have inserted it. The great thing is that you can't really mess it up. My gynecologist assured me that there was really no "wrong" way to do it. You just fold the ring in half and push it in as far as you can and that's it. It doesn't feel like there's anything there.

2) It has come out during sex for me, this only happened one time so far though. I just took it out and then afterwards, rinsed it with cool water and put it back in. When I asked my doctor about this, she said it can be out for up to 3 hours and you'll still be safe. Some people just take it out completely when they have sex. My boyfriend says he cannot feel it during sex either which is good. It has never come out or been an issue when I go to the bathroom.

As far as the hormones in it, I believe it has made me more emotional. It also made my breasts sore a lot the first month but that hasn't really been an issue the longer I've been on it. I haven't gained any weight or had any other negative side effects. When I take it out for a week, I usually bleed for 3-4 days until I insert the new one.

Overall, I like it better than the pill because I don't have to remember it every day. I also used Depo Provera for several years in the past and I like NuvaRing better than that too. The only down side for me has been the cost. It's more expensive for me than the pill or shot were but, that's just a matter of how much your insurance covers. If you have any other questions about it, feel free to ask. :)

[Sara413]

I forgot to ask my doctor when I was there - she said I need to have it in for 7 days before it will be fully effective. Is that only the first one or every time I put a new one in will we need to use condoms the first week?

[xHoneyxBeex]

That's only for the first one -or- if you are late putting in the next one. But if you are on time putting in your new ring, you are still protected right away.

[redeyemindtricks]

You were on Depo for "several years"? Tell me that wasn't several CONSECUTIVE years, please.

[xHoneyxBeex]

@redeyemindtricks it was a year and a half then I stopped and wasn't on anything until I started NuvaRing this year.

[redeyemindtricks]

Ah, ok ::sigh of relief:: You wrote "FOR several years", that's all. Depo can cause osteopenia / premature osteoporosis in women who take it for more than 1.5-2 years straight. Really, they SHOULD have advised you not to take it for more than a year in a row. blaaaa

[xHoneyxBeex]

@redeyemindtricks Yeah, I was aware of that which is probably why they told me to toke vitamins and everything for my bone health for the duration that I was on it. Definitely not a good situation though. I like NuvaRing much better so far.

[ElizabethE_2004]

I've tried it, (my question lol) my boyfriend had no idea it was there, I felt it a little but as I got used to it I forgot it was there. It never came out unless I took it out and peeing was normal!.

[ranachand]

My girlfriend told me that she had ring inside but I don't feel any thing touch with my dick during sex

[starryeyedkitten]

I really liked nuva ring.. until i got a blood clot

[Sara413]

What?

[starryeyedkitten]

In small cases the nuva ring can give you a blood clot

[Sara413]

So what ended up happening?

[starryeyedkitten]

Yeah i had sharp pain in my finger and it turns out that i was a blood clot